Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Sunday’s Mudgee meeting. Selections based on a good track.

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Sunday’s Country Championships meeting at Mudgee. Selections based on a soft track.

Trainer Dean Mirfin has thought for about a year that Scopics is an ideal horse for the $150,000 Newhaven Park Central Districts Country Championships (1400m) at Mudgee on Sunday and he says the gelding is on track to fire.

Third time lucky is a well worn cliché but it’s exactly what it will be if Lockdown Gamble can finally win the $150,000 Newhaven Park Central Districts Country Championships (1400m) at Mudgee on Sunday.

The chance to contest a $1 million race restricted to country horses doesn’t come around often when you can count your horse numbers on a few fingers but trainer Mark Jones has those fingers crossed Life’s A Party can earn that shot.